The number of pedestrians and cyclists killed or seriously injured on
Britain's roads has risen fears that motorists are becoming “carcooned” as
their vehicles become safer.

Road safety campaigners warned that motorists are becoming so reliant on technology that they are increasingly oblivious to pedestrians and cyclists.

According to the latest casualty figures released by the Department for Transport, the number of cyclists who were killed or badly hurt reached 6,020 the 12 months ending in March, a rise of 11 per cent.

For both pedestrians and motorcyclists there was a six per cent rise, while the number of car occupants dropped by the same amount.

“Perhaps we are seeing here is 'carcooning' effect – that car drivers sitting in increasingly safer cars have less concern for the vulnerable road users around them,” said Robert Gifford, executive director of the Parliamentary Advisory Committee for Transport Safety.

His fears are shared by other road safety experts, such as Prof Frank McKenna, a psychologist at Reading University, who coined the term 'carcooning'.

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In recent years cars are being fitted with an array of safety technology such as airbags, blind spot detection systems and sophisticated seat belts which tighten as soon as the vehicle brakes sharply.

“More must be done to get drivers to look out for vulnerable road users,” said Simon Best, chief executive of the Institute of Advanced Motorists.

“We must have changes to the driving test, greater enforcement and incentives for driver training.

“It is unacceptable that road deaths and serious injuries have risen for children, pedestrians, motorcyclists and cyclists.

“Cutting road safety education, scrapping casualty targets and cuts in council spending all suggest this isn’t a major priority. The Government needs to show much greater leadership on road safety.”

The Department for Transport also reported a 12 per cent rise in the number of deaths from drink drive accidents last year, with the figure increasing from 250 to 280.

Injuries rose by three per cent from 8,210 to 8,430 during the same period with an 18 per cent increase in the number of fatal accidents involving drink driving.

This was the first rise since 2002, however road safety experts said the long term showed a decline in drink drive related casualties, with last year’s jump being attributed to an abnormally low figure in 2010.

“Whilst some of the rise can be attributed to low traffic levels due to bad winter weather in 2010 this trend is very worrying,” said Paul Watters of the AA.